Centre committed to promoting eco-tourism: Jayanthi

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Chennai: Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan today said the Centre is committed to promoting eco-tourism and has set up a committee to review guidelines for it.

"We are committed to promoting eco-tourism. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke about (setting up of a) National Board for Wildlife," she told reporters here.

The committee had been set up keeping in mind the need to ensure that forest dwellers were not affected by eco-tourism, she said.

To a query on Supreme Court banning tourism in Tiger reserves, she declined comment saying the matter is subjudice.

Appointing an animal protection officer in every police station across the country was under consideration, she said.

"We also have a provision (in our guidelines) where every police station can have an animal protection officer. We have the funds for that. We need to publicise this matter. They are paid by us. We would like every police station (in the country) to have an animal protection officer," she said.

"Basically, we dedicated ourselves, in ensuring humane treatment for animals whether they are in circuses, or in films or the transportation to slaughter houses.." the minister said after attending the 37th Annual General Meeting of the Animal Welfare Board of India.